Teams will begin clearing oil and debris from New Zealand's Bay of Plenty beaches today after a Rena cargo ship split in two over the weekend. Up to 300 containers have now fallen overboard. Hundreds of tons of oil was spilt and thousands of birds killed when the ship ran aground back in October. 

 

Lightning has caused a fire at the trouble-plagued Orica plant in Newcastle. One of the stacks that vents hydrogen from the Kooragang Island ammonia plant was struck by lightning just after 10 o'clock last night. The plant only re-opened last week after it was closed because of a chemical leak in August. 

 

A bushfire is burning out of control near Carnarvon in Western Australia. Authorities have issued a watch and act warning for the area north of Carnarvon to the Minilya Roadhouse. Residents have been urged to prepare to defend their properties with strong winds expected for that area. 

 

And North Korea has marked the birthday of its new leader Kim Jong-un with a documentary on state TV. The film shows Kim as the country's supreme military commander, inspecting troops, saluting and sitting in a tank. He's described as a genius in military strategy. Kim Jong-un's age is unknown but he's believed to be in his late 20s.